He is exactly right. I think most lifters should go to "failure" because it most likely isn't failure, it's 2 reps shy of it. Most cannot withstand the pain and/or produce the effort to go to true failure. Once you're seasoned, you will still go to "failure" but in the back of your mind, you know it isn't true failure. True failure isn't necessary and can actually be detrimental for prolonged periods of time.